homework: 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Celebrations: happy new year

As we close out this year, I want to thank you for your visits, comments and creative sharing this past year. With sincere gratitude, I wish you all the best in 2012.

Let’s toast to another year filled with creativity and crafty fun.

Happy New Year!

Carolyn

Friday, December 30, 2011

The Inspiration Board: link party spotlight ~30~

We’re on the homestretch of the holiday season and on the verge of a new year. I want to take a moment to thank you for visiting my blog, sharing your projects and leaving sweet comments for me throughout 2011. I’m looking forward to sharing creative inspiration and crafty fun with you in 2012!

Again, thank you to everyone who linked up a project on the Inspiration Board this week. Here are a few in the spotlight this week.

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Pre-New Year’s

Have you written your thank you cards? Did you have time to make your own thank you cards? Oki Stamp Queen did and they are adorable.

New Year Organization

Have you started organizing for the new year? How to Nest for Less makes great use of old shelves for her craft supplies.

More organizing fun! Yesterday on Tuesday made these sweet organizers out of old containers and craft items on hand. It’s a win-win – use up bits of craft supplies and get organized.

New Year To-Do’s

I love this kid’s table and chair set from That’s my Letter. Even more impressed because this wasn’t a premade kit. The paint colors and coordinating rug are picture perfect.

Learn how to Mod Podge photos from Pink Umbrella Photography. Using a black and white image and an interesting crop makes the photo all the more stunning. I’m putting this on my list to create some beautiful wall art

New Year Dreams

This journal entry by Love Notes by Lauryn is so intriguing. So many fun things to read and bits of things to remember. I’m going to take more time this year to write down thoughts, memories and dreams.

New Year’s Celebrations

Champagne and New Year’s celebrations go hand-in-hand. 52 Mantels shows us how to make Glazed Champagne White Chocolate cookies.

I love caramel corn and this homemade caramel by Grow Creative corn looks extra caramelly! I’ll definitely be printing out this recipe and popping up a batch.

New Year / New Tradition in a can by Rook No. 17. Like little time capsules, New Year’s resolutions can be placed in the cans to be reviewed later in the year. Rook No. 17 turned humble soup cans into these festive containers.

Bloody Mary’s in a jar with the perfect sentiment

“Have a bloody good year”.

Another great idea by JacOLyn Murphy.

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This week on the Inspiration Pinboard

{ new year wishes for you }

Hope – Uncommon

Peace – A Pumpkin and a Princess

Joy – Sandy’s Space

If you were in the spotlight, please feel free to grab a button.

Wishing each and everyone one of you a Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Celebrations: new year resolution bottles

If you’re having a New Year’s Eve party, these would make great party favors for your guests.

Upcycle bottles {left} or purchase little travel size containers {right} to make resolution holders. Or use a variety of bottles – mismatched bottles would make an interested table display.

Type up and print out New Year’s resolution papers. Guests can write down their goals for the new year.

Once your guests write down their resolutions or dreams, roll them up and pop them into the bottle.

For the upcycled bottle use a piece of corrugated cardboard rolled up to seal the bottle.

Guests can take home their bottles and their dreams.

Even if you’re not having a party, this would be a fun activity for the family. Keep the bottles and see how you did in a year.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Upcycling: silver animal jars

I'm taking a break from all the holiday projects. I wanted to make something fun and whimsical and these definitely fit the bill - plus they can be used for decorating or organizing.

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Many of you may have seen the fantastic, colorful painted animal jars {photo above} that have made their way around the craft blogs and Pinterest. They’re from House to Home and have been featured many, many times.

Like many of you, I fell in love with these adorable jars and decided to make my own grown up versions. I used smaller jars that were originally sample make up and lotions. The animals are the cheap plastic toy animals that can be found at local discount stores or dollar stores. I used a sheep, pig and cow from a farmyard set.

For the pig and sheep, I used Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Metallic paint in Sterling.

The original lettering on my jars wouldn’t come off so I wrapped embroidery floss around the jars and painted the floss in the matching silver paint. Of course it would be easier if you have silver embroidery floss which I didn’t.

For the cow, I used Folk Art Enamels Glitter paint in Silver.

I’m planning on using these jars to organize a few of my supplies like beads and paper clips. There’s something about these little animals that are just irresistible and they’ll be fun to look at everyday.

This project is entered at

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Inspiration Board: link party 30

Welcome to The Inspiration Board link party. If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you had the merriest and brightest Christmas ever! Now that the Christmas rush is over, we can look forward to the New Year and a new year of creative sharing.

Thank you to those who have linked up in the past and are back for more inspiration. There are many link parties available and I’m so appreciative that I’m on your party list. If you are new, thank you for joining in the fun. I’ll be going through the projects and featuring some in the spotlight on Friday and on the Homework Facebook page and Twitter.

A few rules:

Link up your own projects – something you created.
Link to a specific post, not your blog home page (No Etsy shops or giveaways).
Grab a “homework” button and include it somewhere on the post you’re linking, on your home page or a page of link parties. Or, if you prefer, add a text link.
Follow homework. You’ll find the “Follow via Google Friend Connect” gadget on the right sidebar.
Please visit the other links that intrigue you and make someone smile with a comment or two.

I’m ready to be inspired and can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on.

Don’t forget to add my button somewhere on your blog. Spreading the word helps bring more visitors to your linked project.

Want to host your own link party? Click here to sign up for InLinkz

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Celebrations: christmas wishes

It’s Christmas Eve. The tree is trimmed, the presents wrapped and the goodies baked. Is everyone else as exhausted as I am?

I’ve enjoyed sharing my holiday projects with you this season and can’t thank you enough for stopping by and visiting my blog.

Whatever you celebrate - whatever you believe, from the bottom of my heart, I wish you a shiny and bright Christmas – filled with joy and happiness!

Friday, December 23, 2011

The Inspiration Board: link party spotlight ~29~

Thank you to everyone who linked up a project on the Inspiration Board this week. The projects were all wonderful. If you came by to visit and check out the links, I hope you were as inspired as I was. Here are the projects in the spotlight this week.

Beautiful journals by Rook No. 17. You would never guess that these contemporary journals are made from old books. A great upcycle by Rook No. 17.

File this one away for next year. Adorable reindeer advent calendar by Sandy’s Space. Each reindeer has it’s own look and character {and a goodie inside}.

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If you need a 2012 calendar or can use a last minute gift, this Crochet Calendar from About Crochet is perfect. The monthly pages are beautifully designed with areas for notes and ideas.

Saraccino brings us more fantastic stamping ideas. Give your backgrounds a cool look using textured wallpaper and stamp ink.

This is a project that’s been on my list and Live Love brings us a wonderful step-by-step tutorial with lots of pictures of the process…and gorgeous faux mercury glass results.

Oh my… this is a trifecta of goodness. Beautiful photography, beautiful styling and a pastry that sounds delicious. Egg Nog Tarts by Silver Boxes.

Johnnie at Saved by Love Creations has become quite the rolled magazine artist. She’s made some amazing pieces and I just love this heart dish. Head on over to her blog to see all her paper magazine goodies.

Super cute wine charms by Paper Vine. These are made from Vintage Vogue Spool Buttons and have such a great look to them.

The Lazy Hobby Hopper whipped up this yummy looking lemon cake with Italian meringue frosting. It looks so light – I’m sure it would be harmless to have a piece or three.

I spotlighted this project several months ago when Mrs. Happy Homemaker first whipped up her batch of homemade vanilla extract. I’m so glad she linked up the final product now that the vanilla is ready after three to six months storing time. A great gift idea – either make well in advance and gift ready-to-use vanilla or give with instructions on how to store the vanilla until it is ready to use.

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Inspiration Pinboard

{lovely neighbor gifts}

1. Citrus Sea Salt Handscrub – I Can’t Stop Crafting 2. For you bird neighbors (bird seed ornament) – Cameron Homemade 3. Pizzelles – The Cottage Market 4. Inspirational Mugs – Homespun with Love 5. Bath Salt Sachets – Rhett Didn’t Give A Damn 6. Hot Chocolate Mugs and Sugar Spoons – A Pumpkin and a Princess 7. Semi Homemade Gifts (wrapped in a tea towel) – Permanent Posies 8. Snowball Fight Invitation (Game On!) – Ode to Inspiration

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If you were in the spotlight, please feel free to grab a button.

Thank you again to everyone who linked a project and to everyone who came to visit. I loved looking at all the projects and visiting your sites.

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Whatever you celebrate or believe, I want to extend my
warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
I hope your holidays are filled with joy and love.

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Inkling: gift tag round up

If you’re already done with your holiday wrapping you can skip this post or file it away for next year. I just started wrapping gifts and was looking for some gift tags to print out. I found so many pretty tags, I had to share them with you.